Turkey moves to bolster northern Cyprus with six F-16 fighter jets

Turkey is considering deploying F-16 jets to Cyprus and other measures to ensure the security of the Turkish Cypriot state amid spreading regional conflict.

Turkey on Monday deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to northern Cyprus to boost the security of the Turkish community there amid the war in Iran, the defense ministry said, adding that Ankara would take additional measures if needed.

European powers have moved to ramp up military deployments to the ethnically split island in recent days, after an Iranian drone, which security officials believe was fired by Hezbollah, an ally of Iran in Lebanon, hit the British Akrotiri air base in Cyprus last week.

“In the context of the latest developments in our region, six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems have been deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as of today,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that this was part of the phased planning to strengthen the breakaway state’s security.

“As a result of the evaluations to be made depending on the developments, additional measures will continue to be taken if necessary,” it added.

Turkey does not recognize the internationally-recognized and European Union-member Greek Cypriot administration in the south of the island, and is the only country to recognize the Turkish Cypriot state to the north.

Last week, NATO defenses shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran into Turkish airspace, in a significant escalation of a US-Israeli war against Iran that has spread to the wider region. NATO member Ankara warned Iran on Saturday against firing more missiles towards it.

Turkey has criticized the European deployments to Cyprus as moves that risk dragging the island into the conflict.

Iran launched missiles at Cyprus, threatening British troops

Additionally, last week, two missiles were launched by Iran toward Cyprus, British Defense Minister John Healey told the BBC, adding that the country may not have “necessarily” been the intended target.

A source confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the missiles were in fact intended to reach Cyprus, but fell short and landed in the water.

Thousands of British military personnel (also known as the British Forces Cyprus) are stationed at the UK Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on Cyprus.

He also noted that 300 British troops had been stationed near the US military base Iran struck in Bahrain with some of the soldiers being “several hundred yards away.”